The UK government has launched an urgent investigation following a major power failure that shut down Heathrow Airport and disrupted travel for approximately 300,000 passengers. Ministers have labeled the incident as a “wake-up call” for the country’s critical infrastructure resilience.
Energy Resilience Under Scrutiny
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has instructed the National Energy System Operator (Neso) to investigate the cause and wider implications of the outage. The independent body will also evaluate the robustness of the UK’s energy systems that support essential infrastructure.
“The loss of power caused significant disruption to people and businesses,” Miliband said. “We must understand exactly what went wrong and how to prevent a repeat.”
The regulator Ofgem has also confirmed it will take action if any license conditions were breached. Neso is expected to deliver initial findings within six weeks. Launched in October, Neso manages electricity and gas network planning across England, Scotland, and Wales.
Accusations of Complacency and Previous Warnings
The fire broke out on Friday at a high-voltage substation in Hayes, west London. It cut power to thousands of homes and shut down the UK’s busiest airport, affecting over 1,350 flights. While police do not suspect foul play, counter-terrorism officers are investigating as a precaution.
Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye stated the issue originated outside the airport, which receives power from three substations. However, one failure forced a complete restructuring of the power supply. While defending Heathrow’s response, Woldbye faced criticism for appearing “complacent” in his public statements.
A 2014 risk assessment warned that Heathrow’s main transmission line connections were a vulnerability. It concluded that even brief power losses could have serious consequences—concerns now echoed by experts.
Lord Toby Harris, chair of the National Preparedness Commission, stated: “It’s extraordinary that a single substation failure could cause such widespread disruption.”
Government Pledges to Address the Issue
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged the seriousness of the incident. “Heathrow uses as much power as a small city,” she said. “We must understand how this happened and ensure it never happens again.”
Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden is also leading a separate, broader review of the UK’s national infrastructure resilience.
In response to the crisis, Heathrow has brought in hundreds of additional staff to manage passenger backlogs. However, flight delays and cancellations are expected to continue for several days.
Passenger Farah Rafeeq, 24, described her experience as “nightmarish” after missing her flight to a wedding in Cambodia and having to pay £600–£700 for a replacement.
Neso chief executive Fintan Slye stated that the organization welcomed the commission and would collaborate with all relevant partners to enhance energy system resilience across Britain.